Orrington girls make Junior Olympics

ORRINGTON – For each of three particular girls who live in this town on the Penobscot River, it was something different that brought her to track and field.

“One of my teachers, Rick Cortis, asked me to participate, and I said OK,” said 15-year-old Stephanie Dickey, who will be a sophomore at Brewer High School this fall.

Cortis also was an influence on Susie Zitaner, and Dickey had an effect on both Zitaner and Christine Thoms. And two of the girls also had a parent who had participated in track.

“My mom used to do it,” said Zitaner.

“My dad did shot put in high school,” said Thoms.

All must be proud now, as the three girls have qualified, along with more than 20 other Maine athletes, for the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics, to be held July 23-28 in Omaha, Neb.

Individuals who finished in the top three in the regional competition, held in June in Uniondale, N.Y., are eligible for the nationals.

Thoms won the youth (ages 13-14) shot put with a throw of 12.52 meters. In the intermediate (ages 15-16) division, Dickey placed third in shot put with a toss of 9.70 meters, second in the discus with a throw of 31.93 meters, and second in the javelin with a 32.40-meter heave. Zitaner earned thirds in the discus and javelin, with throws of 30.00 meters and 30.55 meters, respectively. Competitions are held for youngsters up to age 18.

For Dickey and Zitaner, this will be their third trip to the national meet.

Zitaner is hoping this year’s Olympic experience is better personally.

The first year, the 15-year-old said, it was “really exciting, just like the actual Olympics. They lit a torch, [there was] a parade of athletes, everyone released red, white and blue balloons.”

The results of her discus throw left the Orrington resident angry, she said. “[I was] thinking I could have done better, but it was my first year, and I wasn’t going to get down on myself.”

The second year, she threw the discus and high jumped. Again, she wasn’t satisfied with what she did. In the high jump, she went out at 4-foot-6, adding, “I was expecting to do better.”

Zitaner’s goals for this year are pretty straightforward.

“I want to break 100 feet for the discus, because I already did it for the javelin,” she explained. The youth has already tossed 98 feet for the discus. In the javelin, she has thrown 101 feet, and hopes to get between 110 and 115 feet. She said, “I expect to place and do very well, to come in the top 10.”

For Dickey, the first trip was different.

“I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “I’d never been to a national competition. I didn’t think I was that good.”

While she couldn’t remember the specific results, she recalled that she did really well. In fact, she said, “Better than I had ever done before in both events, so I did good.”

Referring to her first trip, Dickey said, “There were famous athletes, like Evelyn Ashford – a lot of music. It was really fun.”

The second year the Orrington resident participated, she said, was “overall, a very good experience.”

She came in fourth in the nation in the javelin, earning her All-American status. She said that she had never thrown more than 100 feet before, and threw 106 feet. “Everything came together that day,” she said.

Dickey recalled doing very well in the discus, but not so well in the shot, where she was “all burnt out from doing the other two [events].” Also, it was very hot that day, she said.

For this year, her goals vary for each event. To begin with, she said, she wants to “come in first in the javelin.” For the discus, a “throw in the 110s or 120s, that would be good for me.” And, for the shot, it’s simply to get a good throw.

She wants to “just keep going to the Junior Olympics. Maybe one day go to the Olympics.”

This will be Thoms’ first trip to the National Junior Olympics. Missing third place by two centimeters on a tiebreaker last year helped motivate her for this year.

The 13-year-old thinks she’ll place in the top six, but she’s shooting for a first or second. The Brewer High freshman also wants to break the Orrington Middle School record of 43 feet – held by her friend Stephanie Dickey – by throwing 45 feet.

The girls are holding fund-raisers to help them go to Omaha. Those interested in helping may contact Johnna Thoms at 825-3554.